Sleeping bags for your swags

[Fly Fisher]

Ok guys have done some searching both on the google and this site but am still a bit undecided. I'm on the market for a good quality sleeping bag for my sinlge swag. I do a fair bit of camping in the vic high country both over winter and summer so one rated fairly low is a must. Has to be able to be rolled up small or left in the swag and rolled up. I only like to buy things once and don't mind spending a bit more for better quality one that is going to last. Australian made maybe?

What have you got or used that works well?

[briann532]

I have tried numerous over the years and all were pretty good, but I have a preference these days for the Romans.
Always get it at least 1 temp rating better than you think you will need.....

I am also of slender build and find them a bit "cosy" I like to move around at night so I don't know how fuller figures go, but you can get wider girth bags.
Just something to consider.

Cheers
Brian

[KingBilly]

We have both synthetic and feather bags.  Both keep you warm.  The feather packs a bit smaller but in a swag you wouldn't notice the difference.  Have been told the feather bags should not be stored packed.  Synthetic are easier to launder.

Have both Mountain Designs and Katmandu.  Whatever you do, don't pay full price.  Wait for one of their regular sales.  You can get different sizes and shapes.  Some are like a mummy shape, others are square, some are wider at the shoulders, etc, etc.

KB

[JCOJ]

If you want real quality - One Planet.

I used to be an Outdoor Ed teacher taking school kids on bushwalks in the middle of winter - and I hate the cold!!

I have two of these and 20+ years later they are still in mint condition.  One cost me around $500 and the other $950 (but it has a Goretex outer).  Never even been close to been cold and being good quality down, they stuff down real small (probably no so important unless you need to carry it in a backpack!)

However, you musn't store them packed up, and give them a bit of a shake when you open them out at camp to create 'loft'

[fuji]

I believe D4D bought one of these and said it was noice.
Looking for a quality down bag and the one I would like is around $1000. (RAB) looking at trekking to Everest Base Camp.
Wayne

[Fly Fisher]

Thanks for the info so far guys, i will do a bit of research on the brands you have listed.

[weeds]

I use sheets blankets and doonas as required depending on climate. Sleeping bags restricts you from spreading out using all the room in the swag.


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[Fly Fisher]

I have used all those too, but I'm hoping too find something decent that I can just leave in the swag and don't have to think about packing every time I throw the swag in the 4wd. Doonas etc take up allot of room in the car

[kiva]

I bought my sleeping bag about 15 years ago from Kathmandu. It was probably their most expensive bag at the time, and even at a sale I think I still paid about $1000 or more. Still, it is the best bag I've ever slept in. The fill is goose down so the bag must be stored unpacked. Not sure of its temperature rating however it is considered a snow bag and is waterproof (Gore-Tex outer). I've slept in it during many below zero nights and have been warm and toasty. The only slight annoyance is that due to it being a mummy bag, which is great for keeping warm, it is the wrong shape when opened up like a doona. It is well looked after and still looks like new.

I'm with you on the "buy once, buy quality" philosophy.

[Jason B]

I bought a Coleman one similar to the oz tent one above. It was about $160, it's one of the best bags I have had to date at any price. It has a zip out polartec type liner that can be removed or used by itself in summer and adds warmth in winter. It also works as a bag protector as it just zips out and goes in the wash.



Regards

Jas

[Jjw1234]

Oxtrail cotton canvas sleeping bag. Huge -12 deg rates and very comfy

[evolution]

these are the ones I used to use at work. Loved them to bits.
http://www.platatac.com/snugpak-special-forces-complete-system.html
I used them in conjunction with this
http://www.platatac.com/snugpak-ionosphere-tent-bivi-shelter.html

It was a great combination, We used them in sub zero temps quite regularly and also in the tropics. Couldn't fault them.

Cheers
Evo

[Bird]

I reckon sleeping bags are a bit of a personal preference.

I love mine, NFI what make/model it is but have woken up in the swag at Binderee Hut with ice everywhere on the swag, tents, car etc and didn't even know it was cold outside.

I suggest going and sussing out some of the camping stores, and see what they sell.. not just the ones that sell their own brands of poo these days, but some of the specialty stores mentioned like Katmandu etc.

[Tim - Stratford]

Mountain Designs -  Whatever you do, don't pay full price.  Wait for one of their regular sales.

x2

The Mountain Design down bags are overpriced but some great bargains can be had if you keep an eye on some of the clearance stores. There's one in Smith Street Collingwood (probably in other States too). I've got a couple of their bags and they are great.

Tim.

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

There's a Mountain Designs Store in Box Hill also.
Whitehorse Rd., Just East of Station Street on the South side.
And a Katmandu in Whitehorse Road, Blackburn.
And Platypus Outdoors in the CBD Melbourne, as well as
Hallam (9796 5355) www.platatac.com

Fly Fisher, these are all in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
We can only help if you let us know what area your in, for sourcing the equipment.

[JCAT]

Mountain Designs for me as well. If they are good enough to be used on Everest that's good enough for me. We purchased a couple of them in 1998 and one is still going strong. I let a mate use one and somehow he lost it? Made him pay for a new one albeit not the same one, at the time they had stopped making the Standhardt. Great quality bags. There is also a clearance outlet in Traralgon isn't there Tim.


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[Carlisle Rogers]

Coleman makes a big canvas-lined bag that unzips flat...Bigfoot or something, which I love with my swag. Cheap, warm and durable.
Don't go for lightweight holofil unless you are hiking. You're paying dearly for a few grams less in weight that doesn't matter if you're swagging it.
Good luck!
Carlisle

[westvic]

I suggest also looking into a sleeping bag sheet. I use an old queen size flannelette sheet stitched down one side and across the bottom. Adds plenty of warmth and is much easier to clean than a sleeping bag. Often I end up just using the sheet and maybe the sleeping bag as a doona.

[Tim - Stratford]

There is also a clearance outlet in Traralgon isn't there Tim.

Definitely a store in Traralgon - plenty of my $$$ there somewhere    I don't think it's a clearance store.

I suggest also looking into a sleeping bag sheet. I use an old queen size flannelette sheet stitched down one side and across the bottom. Adds plenty of warmth and is much easier to clean than a sleeping bag. Often I end up just using the sheet and maybe the sleeping bag as a doona.

Great advice. A sheet or a liner can add quite a few degrees to your bag...and as Westvic says, a lot easier to wash than a bag. It also makes it easier to regulate your temp.

Tim

[Fly Fisher]

There's a Mountain Designs Store in Box Hill also.
Whitehorse Rd., Just East of Station Street on the South side.
And a Katmandu in Whitehorse Road, Blackburn.
And Platypus Outdoors in the CBD Melbourne, as well as
Hallam (9796 5355) www.platatac.com

Fly Fisher, these are all in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
We can only help if you let us know what area your in, for sourcing the equipment.

Thanks. I'm located in Berwick, SE suburbs.

[chester ver2.0]

I suggest also looking into a sleeping bag sheet. I use an old queen size flannelette sheet stitched down one side and across the bottom. Adds plenty of warmth and is much easier to clean than a sleeping bag. Often I end up just using the sheet and maybe the sleeping bag as a doona.

Same here as i find 99 times out of 100 the sleeping bag is to hot in the swag i use the sheet method and have the bag unzipped down by my feet and pull it up if need be. This method worked for me in the blue mtns when it got down to -7 mind you i was wearing a tracksuit as well

[brett.love1]

I have used the darche cold mountain sleeping bag for the last 4 years on my June high country trip and never had a prob and I think the are only $150ish


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[Cruiser 105Tvan]

Ok, Fly fisher
Hallam for you Platypus Outdoors. Phone No. Supplied.
Merlin Softy Sleeping Bag as used by SAS Reconn. Etc.

Reason for not having Down filled bags.
If you get them wet they are still cold.
Being cold and wet they draw down your fitness to carry on.
As well as promote hypothermia.

Hollofibre will retain warmth even when wet.
Much better than wool does.